I’ve been a PCS activist for 22 years and a member of LU since my first National Conference in 2003. Over the years I have been a Branch Rep, Branch Organiser, Health and Safety officer, Union Learning Rep, DWP Group Executive Committee member and Ops TU Secretary. As a member of the GEC it has also been my privilege to be able to run courses to train a number of Reps on the New Reps course and on the Personal Case’s Course.
I am proud to be a member of a group that I believe continues to fight for members within PCS and in the wider Trade Union Movement. I firmly believe that we can never lose sight of the fact that our members and their issues should be why we seek election as TU Representatives and why we need a strong Leadership so that we can deliver for them. I believe that the current LU Leadership and those who have been nominated by LU are key to ensuring that we keep our focus on our members. Our record shows that we can be
trusted to do this.
At the General Election last year members would have been hoping that the change in Government would have stopped the almost daily attacks in the press, a stop to Government trying to gain favour by threatening jobs through so-called efficiency measures and a return to proper negotiations. Sadly none of this has happened despite pre election promises. As a Union we must keep pushing back on any and all attacks regardless of who they come from or what colour of rosette they wear.
During the pay round last year the so called ‘left majority’ on the NEC tried to stop our pay negotiators attending talks with Management. The DWP Left Unity led GEC along with other PCS groups fought back against this and ensured that PCS members were represented. After the first meeting our negotiators made it clear to the GEC that Management’s intention had been to use the majority of the money available to ‘award’ the higher grades. Only by having our reps involved in
those talks were we able to ensure that the offer while still unacceptable was more balanced.
I am therefore seeking to continue my work on the GEC along with my LU colleagues to further the fight for better pay and conditions, an increase in staffing and to ensure that all of our members’ views on how to do this are listened to.
The only way that we can have a strong voice is by recruiting new members to the union and regaining the trust of those who felt the need to resign due to the National levy. I will work to ensure that every non-member is not only asked to join or rejoin PCS but is shown why it’s so important they are part of the fight for their interests at work.
Only where we have good organisation and good reps speaking up for members can we continue to win concessions. I as part of Left Unity am determined to ensure we have both in DWP.
Please vote for me and the other Left Unity candidates in the forthcoming DWP Group election under the leadership of the current Group President Angela Grant.